Hit the Open Road: Tips For Planning the Perfect Roadtrip

Fall’s here, so that means Homecoming season, football and the perfect time to plan a weekend getaway. If you’re an East Coaster like me, there’s many cities along the coast that serve as a quick-trip solution to chase a few extra days of sunshine before the winter season is upon us. Not to mention, if you’re plotting your school’s homecoming this year, it can be as simple as a 3-4 hour trip.

Where ever you decide to go, there are a few rules of the road that you must implement in order to have the perfect roadtrip. Grab your girlfriends or your significant other and follow these tips to perfect your roadtrip experience.

Plan the route.

Don’t know the most direct route? Or want to save some time? The only way to do so is to plan in advance. There are several online tools you can use to map your route, and if you’re like me Google Maps is your best friend. But if you’d like some more advanced planning assistance these two services can help you plan:

Roadtrippers: The service uses Google-Maps based directions to lay out your route and helps you find all the stops along the way. You can now save trips and edit them too. With Roadtrippers you can also calculate fuel costs, time, and distance.

OnTheWay: Another app we’ve talked about before is OnTheWay, for iOS. The app can show you stops and restaurants along your route, but it can also help you find interesting things like museums, parks, and roadside attractions.

Pick the perfect vehicle.

Having the right ride for a road trip is critical. Space is obviously a must, whether you’re riding in something classy or something sporty, so place more value on comfort in a car than you would on a flight. Also, don’t overlook the significance of large windows, and proper functioning heat or air conditioning.

Start early or leave late.

It goes without saying that you will make the most headway when the least amount of cars are on the road. But besides being efficient, beginning your trip at the crack of dawn or after the sun sets can be exciting. There’s something thrilling about exploring the world when everyone else is still asleep. Just make sure you’re plenty alert and got enough sleep the night before.

Invite your crew (or beau).

I’m sure you’re aware that the cost of your road trip will be cut down dramatically by every passenger who joins you. Invite your friends (those that you can stand to be around in close quarters for an extended period of time). You can all take turns driving, playing games and catch up everything new in your lives. Keep in mind, you can’t travel with everyone, so make sure you are comfortable with the people you plan on traveling with.